The history of the iconic and controversial character James Bond goes back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. This character had his official film debut in Dr. No in 1962, in which he was played by Sean Connery. Connery was so convincing in the role that it became his signature part and spawned an unending series of movies.
Several other actors have taken on the name of Bond over the years, and the saga of this casting process is as old as the movies themselves. With Daniel Craig’s contract now coming to an end, the speculation over who will be the next Bond is swirling around Hollywood. Given that the modern interpretation of Bond can be anyone, that gives us even more interesting possibilities.
6 Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Rumors Say he’s Been Offered The Part
- Bond Qualifications: Experienced with action, drama, a British accent, and plenty of smart-assery.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson didn’t have much to do as Pietro Maximoff in Marvel’s Age of Ultron before disappearing from the series entirely, but at least it gave him his breakthrough role. Other more recent movie parts have included Tenet, Bullet Train, and The Fall Guy. He usually plays an action hero with a habit of quips, unique weapons, or secretive plans.
Rumors have already started to circulate that Taylor-Johnson has been offered the leading role in the next Bond movie. Nothing has been confirmed yet, however, and the actor has a full roster of movies to star in for at least a few years already.
5 Sofia Boutella
Survivalist, Engineer, Always Kicking Ass
- Bond Qualifications: Experienced action hero, looks great and moves fast even in complicated costumes, and steals every scene she’s in.
How is it that Sofia Boutella hasn’t even been in a Bond movie yet? Does it make too much sense? Her role in Kingsman was pretty close, along with her tough-as-nails character in Star Trek: Beyond. Those are just a few examples of what she can do when it comes to action and drama, with a variety of exotic weapons and gimmicks.
Boutella got her start in choreography, which plays nicely into the stunts, weapons, and spy maneuvers involved in Bond movies. For more of the sultry and spy part of being Bond, there was her role in Atomic Blonde as the main character’s French connection. And that was a head-turning role if there ever was one.
4 Idris Elba
He’s Been A Contender For Years
- Bond Qualifications: Suave, cool, collected, a perfect accent, and looks great in a suit.
Idris Elba is almost too obvious of a choice. Plenty of his films include a wide range of action, and take place everywhere from space to the Old West. Plus, his silky British baritone has filled several notable voice acting roles.
Elba has never been offered the role of James Bond, likely because of the possible backlash from more conservative fans that couldn’t even handle Daniel Craig’s blond hair. However, those times are changing. It’s possible that he’s just been too busy, being one of the most in-demand stars in the industry. But when you think of how long we waited for Pierce Brosnan, there’s hope for Elba yet.
3 Dev Patel
A Bond With Gravitas
- Bond Qualifications: A gentleman of action, looks good in a suit, and dominates the screen.
Dev Patel is an actor with an impressive range. He burst onto the scene with Slumdog Millionaire, and audiences were immersed in the story partly because of his quiet intensity. His other roles have included dramas like Modern Love and artistic films like The Green Knight.
Despite his popularity, Patel seems to shun big budget movies and prefers to take more intimate and artistic roles. Given his preferences, it’s likely that he would refuse the role of James Bond if it were offered to him, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be good at it.
2 Neil Newbon
Stunts And Martial Arts, Plus The Buttery Accent
- Bond Qualifications: An experienced stuntman, can perform with a variety of accents, and looks great dressed up.
Neil Newbon’s specialty these days is video games, and these past few months he’s been busy collecting awards for his portrayal of Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3. The new triple threat is voice acting, stuntman, and motion capture, so Newbon would crush it as the 26th James Bond.
Other than the voice acting that brought everyone’s favorite vampire heartthrob to life, Newbon also did a lot of motion capture and stunt work for most of BG3 and several other popular video game titles. Thanks to his public appearance at the BAFTA Awards, we also know he looks great in a suit. With that realization, any casting director should be all out of excuses.
1 Sonequa Martin-Green
Section 31 Is Just Future MI6
- Bond Qualifications: Experienced equally in action and drama, often in a leadership role, looks great in a variety of suits and uniforms.
The character of James Bond has to be clean cut and dressed to impress, along with being able to get their hands dirty and handle dangerous situations. This could also describe Michael Burnham’s personality, one of the main characters in Star Trek: Discovery and the role that has gained the actor more recent acclaim.
Sonequa Martin-Green was involved in a variety of live-action shows and movies before starring in Discovery, most notably The Walking Dead. Both shows feature her as a tough, resourceful, and intelligent character that’s just as good at completing a covert op as leading a team. It’s a perfect resume for the next Bond.
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